"I've fallen and I can't get up". We've all seen the commercial where an older person has fallen in his or her home and is unable to get up. I have friends whose mother fell in her home and lay on the floor for days before her daughter, who hadn't been able to contact her, went to the house and found her. She was never the same.
Back to the commercial. The commercial which first aired in 1989 contained a scene wherein an elderly woman, identified by a dispatcher as "Mrs. Fletcher", uses a medical alert pendant after having fallen in the bathroom. After falling, Mrs. Fletcher speaks the phrase "I've fallen, and I can't get up!", after which the dispatcher informs her that he is sending help.
October 2002, the similar phrase "Help! I've fallen, and I can't get up!" became a registered trademark of Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc. The Life Alert and similar products are designed to appeal particularly to seniors who lived alone and who might experience a medical emergency, such as a fall, which would leave them alert but immobile and unable to reach the telephone.
Much like a person who falls and is unable to get up can use a medical alert device to call for and get help, Christians have an alert system when we fall short of God's standards. For me that's often. If you, like me, stumble and fall in this life, here are four truths to hold onto for inspiration, so we can get up.
Get up. Dust yourself off. Remember He is with you and makes up the for any shortfall.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT2) 8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Back to the commercial. The commercial which first aired in 1989 contained a scene wherein an elderly woman, identified by a dispatcher as "Mrs. Fletcher", uses a medical alert pendant after having fallen in the bathroom. After falling, Mrs. Fletcher speaks the phrase "I've fallen, and I can't get up!", after which the dispatcher informs her that he is sending help.
October 2002, the similar phrase "Help! I've fallen, and I can't get up!" became a registered trademark of Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc. The Life Alert and similar products are designed to appeal particularly to seniors who lived alone and who might experience a medical emergency, such as a fall, which would leave them alert but immobile and unable to reach the telephone.
Much like a person who falls and is unable to get up can use a medical alert device to call for and get help, Christians have an alert system when we fall short of God's standards. For me that's often. If you, like me, stumble and fall in this life, here are four truths to hold onto for inspiration, so we can get up.
Get up. Dust yourself off. Remember He is with you and makes up the for any shortfall.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT2) 8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/ipopba
Editor's Note: The following is from I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up: Musings of a Senior Sinner by Melinda Eye Cooper, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
1. Even when you fall, God has you in the palm of His hand.
Every one of us will stumble at times in our Christian walk.
You may find yourself reverting to old, bad habits. Or even falling back into addiction after putting it behind you multiple times. We all deal with our flesh daily. But God has given each of us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us when we struggle.
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5)
2. We all fall short.
Any one of us can easily get tripped up in life. We may focus too much on the wrong things and not enough on God things. We give too much attention to what’s going on around us instead of watching our own steps in our Christian walk.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
We all fall short of the glory of God because of the fallen state of the human race. Simply put – we’re all sinners. None of us are even close to perfect. But God’s plan is perfect. I’m so thankful He provided a way for us through His Son.
None of us will ever walk so perfectly, without any tripping up whatsoever, as to be without sin. But every day, you have a mighty power working on your
behalf to help you get back into step with your best life.
3. Jesus makes up the shortfall.
Jesus lived up to God’s high standard. He didn’t sin and lived a perfect life we’re incapable of living. He took our place on the cross and the punishment for all of our sin. He has your back by the stripes on His.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
If we believe in Him, we’ll trust Him.
If we trust Him, we’ll get to know Him.
If we know Him, we will love Him.
The relationship that develops when you’re in love with Jesus is the most amazing, precious gift. It’s so much more than a simple blessing. It’s more than anything you could ever hope for in this life. It’s everything. God knows you’re going to fall. He uses those moments to make you aware of His great love for you.
4. As believers, we walk by faith.
Truth is, you can envision, plan, and step boldly, but some of the best lessons in life are the ones that sidetrack or even throw you off your intended path. You won’t always see in the moment how a fall can be redeemed. But with your trust placed completely in Jesus Christ, you can stride the bumpy road of life with complete confidence. He is with you, even when you fall. He will not leave you or forsake you. What a wonderful gift God has given! With prayer and patience, you grow closer to His walk for you. And even if you accrue some bruises and scars along the path, God will certainly bring beauty from your pain.
1. Even when you fall, God has you in the palm of His hand.
Every one of us will stumble at times in our Christian walk.
You may find yourself reverting to old, bad habits. Or even falling back into addiction after putting it behind you multiple times. We all deal with our flesh daily. But God has given each of us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us when we struggle.
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5)
2. We all fall short.
Any one of us can easily get tripped up in life. We may focus too much on the wrong things and not enough on God things. We give too much attention to what’s going on around us instead of watching our own steps in our Christian walk.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
We all fall short of the glory of God because of the fallen state of the human race. Simply put – we’re all sinners. None of us are even close to perfect. But God’s plan is perfect. I’m so thankful He provided a way for us through His Son.
None of us will ever walk so perfectly, without any tripping up whatsoever, as to be without sin. But every day, you have a mighty power working on your
behalf to help you get back into step with your best life.
3. Jesus makes up the shortfall.
Jesus lived up to God’s high standard. He didn’t sin and lived a perfect life we’re incapable of living. He took our place on the cross and the punishment for all of our sin. He has your back by the stripes on His.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
If we believe in Him, we’ll trust Him.
If we trust Him, we’ll get to know Him.
If we know Him, we will love Him.
The relationship that develops when you’re in love with Jesus is the most amazing, precious gift. It’s so much more than a simple blessing. It’s more than anything you could ever hope for in this life. It’s everything. God knows you’re going to fall. He uses those moments to make you aware of His great love for you.
4. As believers, we walk by faith.
Truth is, you can envision, plan, and step boldly, but some of the best lessons in life are the ones that sidetrack or even throw you off your intended path. You won’t always see in the moment how a fall can be redeemed. But with your trust placed completely in Jesus Christ, you can stride the bumpy road of life with complete confidence. He is with you, even when you fall. He will not leave you or forsake you. What a wonderful gift God has given! With prayer and patience, you grow closer to His walk for you. And even if you accrue some bruises and scars along the path, God will certainly bring beauty from your pain.
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